Java/J2EE Contractor - Cannot get an interview!

[rocktronAMP]

I'm a Java contractor with 8+ years of J2SE/J2EE experience. I'm exceptional at what I do and only get glowing references from whoever I work with. I often deliver 2-3* the amount expected of me and have clients who would fire permies to have me back.

Yet, I can't get an interview. I have agents calling me out of the blue kissing my ass about how brilliant my CV is (I know it is, kiss-up) and telling me how they're going to spend the rest of the day looking for a contract for me. I never hear from them again.

I don't know what happened to the Java market, but all the potential interviews I've been offered turned out to be duds. I had 5-6 interview offers in the last month (since I've been looking) only to be revoked in the last minute due to budget restrictions.

I know what a liquidity crisis can do (I studied economy at uni), but come on, this is getting ridiculous.

I'm seriously considering a permie role where I could make the equivalent of 450 a day. At least it's an IB and front-office.

It will take 2-3 years for the liquidity crisis to be over, according to my friends actually working on these models.

We are screwed.

Well your CV cannot be that good, then! If you are not getting the necessity X number of face-to-face interviews! A lot of investment banks will give you first either arrange for a prospective candidate a phone interview and/or technical test before even the F2F. So have you never had a technical test or phone interview in your any of gig applications? IMHO it is weird that you cant even progress to an on-line test (brainbench) or on-site test or get 15-20 minute phone call from the recruiting project/ line-manager.

Java is just not enough to get a contract in an investment bank. Why not? Because they out source consultancies like Detitica to handle that. Never mind the fact that such out sourcers charge an exorbitant marked-up daily rate way over the equivalent of a hired independent contractor. There is competition, then, from developers from Easturn Europe or the Asian subcontinent who can undercut you if all you can do is program Java.

I digress, you need prerequisite business knowledge sometimes and most definitely database knowledge: e.g. SQL or PL/SQL, Credit Derivatives, Equities, Settlements. Clearly just programming with Java/J2EE is not enough in 2008. It probably was in 2003. But now you need the whole she-bang, including soft skills.

It might help if you have other important skills as well, e.g. managing a team, being agile, certified SCRUM/XP master, emotional intelligence and leader of a group/team.

In this era, the buyer has the power and therefore you must have something or more extraordinary on CV that gets yours notice.

My advice is to look at a permanent role for this year at least or get out of banking until the storm is over. I hear they are looking developers in Germany and cant get enough of them. So time abroad may help. Anyway it is up to you to really call time, when you feel that you getting close the touchy-feely thing called time. Aka Who Ate My Cheese Aka Cheese

Best.

[mangr]

Thanks for all the help.. and economic theory..!

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for all the tips and ideas to help me improve my chances in the java/j2ee market.

I landed a lot of interviews (5) in the few days following that post, which means it took 4 weeks before i started getting interviews! Nothing like that back home.

I have ended up taking a 450/day contract with an Oil company.

I had an amazing chance with a conglomerate at a good rate of 525 a day but after:

1. coding test, involving going to their offices and sitting in the team area and coding a small number crunching application (with unit tests etc) on eclipse
2. a mid level technical (patterns, oo concepts, data structures etc) and development processes (agile etc) interview
3. low level technical test (involving how the threading, messaging, data structures, performance tuning and swing)

I stumbled at the last interview. Apparently my answers on how threading is implemented under the covers wasn't up to scratch (i didnt pretend to know it). I've used multithreading a lot as most java guys do, but core knowledge as not enough. Forget that the feedback i got was the rest of my skillset was strong, they wanted someone who had an insane knowledge of multithreading (as well as how the JVm implements it under the covers to get the most out of it).

Annoyed as all hell, because i liked the role and the people there.

I'll probably just keep looking for work while im working this contract.. i know the UK loves to "label" contractors rather than appreciate software development skill and the ability to apply it to multiple domains.

thanks again all!

::mark

[max]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for all the tips and ideas to help me improve my chances in the java/j2ee market.

I landed a lot of interviews (5) in the few days following that post, which means it took 4 weeks before i started getting interviews! Nothing like that back home.

I have ended up taking a 450/day contract with an Oil company.

I had an amazing chance with a conglomerate at a good rate of 525 a day but after:

1. coding test, involving going to their offices and sitting in the team area and coding a small number crunching application (with unit tests etc) on eclipse
2. a mid level technical (patterns, oo concepts, data structures etc) and development processes (agile etc) interview
3. low level technical test (involving how the threading, messaging, data structures, performance tuning and swing)

I stumbled at the last interview. Apparently my answers on how threading is implemented under the covers wasn't up to scratch (i didnt pretend to know it). I've used multithreading a lot as most java guys do, but core knowledge as not enough. Forget that the feedback i got was the rest of my skillset was strong, they wanted someone who had an insane knowledge of multithreading (as well as how the JVm implements it under the covers to get the most out of it).

Annoyed as all hell, because i liked the role and the people there.

I'll probably just keep looking for work while im working this contract.. i know the UK loves to "label" contractors rather than appreciate software development skill and the ability to apply it to multiple domains.

thanks again all!

::mark

Good work. It gets easier after the first contract, not only as you have the money coming in, but you're more likely to get more work if you are in work.

Interviews can be a hit and miss affair. Some interviewers have some amusing desired skillsets.

Let them be...they probably have a hard time with their mom's at home.

Oh...now you head down to the walkabout for a cold Crowny! £450/day is what they were invented for...."for a hard earned thirst"

[Bumfluff]

I think the number of replies to this post says it all 'There are too many Java developers' get over yourselves Java boys

[max]

I think the number of replies to this post says it all 'There are too many Java developers' get over yourselves Java boys

So girl, what do you do, to come over yourself?

[Bumfluff]

So girl, what do you do, to come over yourself?

Not telling because if I did everyone would start doing doing it.

I shouldnt of said all Java developers should get over themselves in my previous post, it was fall out from my last gig where the Java developers were very arrogant and thought they were some kind of gods.

[Ardesco]

I think the number of replies to this post says it all 'There are too many Java developers' get over yourselves Java boys

Says the VB dev who is desperately cramming C# in the hopes of getting a new job...

(Assuming I have got the right person)

[Bumfluff]

Says the VB dev who is desperately cramming C# in the hopes of getting a new job...

(Assuming I have got the right person)

No not me

[Ardesco]

No not me

DOH!

[oracleslave]

DOH!

PAH?